Posts Tagged ‘New Hampshire’

Ode to the Republic

05/11/2024

By Randall Richards
Happy Voting Day, Enjoy it While You Can**

The following is a good natured exchange on Farcebook between an old friend from my hometown (New Hampshire, USA) and me. It’s self explanatory but in keeping with an “Ode” theme, I’m also including some lyrics from a song I wrote some 30 years ago, which seems applicable. Happy reading.
My friend posted this meme of Farcebook recently, and here’s my response:

Hi James, others
I implore you to do one thing and that’s to look outside your newsfeed because you’re being lied to in real time. I didn’t want to believe it, who does? The power structure is scared to death of being called out on their decades of corruption and are hoping, and banking on, you won’t pull back the curtain and see the truth. What I say sounds crazy, but our future depends on you and others taking off the blinders and waking up to outright lies and defamation that you’re being fed. I warn you though it will take courage. Some of us have the advantage of long-term assimilation to the facts. You don’t have that advantage and the ride may be rough, but I and others are here for you. Again I implore you to at least consider taking the red pill, because all I’m promising you is the truth and nothing more. Oh and by the way, it has less to do with left and right than you can imagine

Addendum:
A good place to start would be to investigate who funds the media. You can find that on Yahoo Finance.
Do you still trust the banks? Remember the Enron and too big to fail events? Do you think they have changed their behavior since then, especially regarding military industrial machine? Lastly, consider reading or listening Whitney Webb.
Best to you on your journey.
Randall

This was my friend’s response:
Randall, I believe that you are sincerely reaching out to share what you believe to be important truths. It concerns me, however, that your comment was offered as a reaction to a post that decries bigotry in very general terms, and offers a pithy resolution to the “paradox of tolerance….” I would be surprised if your intent were to defend bigotry, but it’s hard to understand what else prompted you to post this comment here and now.
I hope that your reference to “the red pill” is intended to encourage general skepticism toward dominant social narratives, rather than an embrace of the fantasies of QAnon, MAGA, incel culture, and the “Alt Right.” Unfortunately, back here in the ‘States, the “red pill” metaphor is often deployed in the service of those collective delusions.

And today’s response on voting day in the U.S:
Hey James, Others,
Happy voting day there Stateside. Good luck.**
Good to hear back from you and thanks for your reply in the comments. I actually had a draft running, but FB deleted it. So I’ll give it another go. Yeah, I’m trying to reach out, which is an exception, because my knowledge usually falls on deaf ears. So generally, it’s not worth my time anymore. There are some you just can’t reach. But a fellow journalist is quoted as saying, there are many pathways to the truth, and some find their way through one issue or another, and then it hits them – “They’ve been lied to.” Then it’s a matter of prying off the bandage to see how bad it is.

I love your writing style. Top notch my friend. I could take some lessons from you. Here’s my response. I trust you’ll take it in good faith. Hopefully the days of respectful discourse are not of days gone by.

Your wrote, that my comment was “offered as a reaction to a post that decries bigotry in very general terms” is not how I see it. The post suggests that those on the “Right”, one side, hates blacks, brown, Asian, etc. and the other side, “Left” hates bigots.  Firstly, I put the left and right in quotes, because the terms are almost meaningless. I didn’t leave the Democratic Party, it left me. Having said that there is an extremist element that has co-opted the Democratic Party. You’d be mortified to know the truth. That’s why I said it would be a rough journey if you and others start doing the hard research.  The meme was not based on fact. No, I don’t defend bigotry in any form, nor even, “hate” which your post evidently advocates. Love your enemy, remember.  My response, in all due respect, was not meant to be pithy in any manner.  That you find it hard to understand what prompted me to post my comment is just the point that we’re on different planes of understanding.

 A good friend yesterday made the analogy that learning the facts of the backstory is a bit like mathematics. It starts with bath arithmetic, etc., then algebra, and if you can handle that, calculus and then delving into quantum physics. At some point, especially me, I’ll get lost at about the calculus level, (if I’m lucky!) and drop out at that point.  Learning the true history, and facts behind the current situation is similar to my analogy. People can handle the truth up to certain point, then cognitive dissonance sets in. Yeah, “the Military Industrial Complex may not have my interests in mind” or “Yeah, there were some mistakes with the vaccine rollout”, and “Yes, the media might be owned by three corporations but, it can’t be that controlled.” “Partial truth” is good enough for a lot of people. It’s not good enough.
Yes, my comment about the red pill, was not in reference to the republican party. Sorry, I wasn’t clear on that. It’s about challenging the illusion, per the Matrix movie. Author of the “Great Unraveling” Julius Ruechel has brilliantly addressed the issue of mass-formation, which I encourage you read/watch. In summary, it’s as if we’re trying in some way to get y’all, people on both sides, to snap out of it.
Your listing of  Q’Anon,  MAGA, “incel”, and Alt Right is curious and, respectfully, shows you’re a bit uninformed. “Q” is a listing of clues supposedly from someone on the inside of government. Never had time for that, and frankly I think it’s a danger to the republic, (notice I didn’t say democracy). “Anon” is a movement of onliners devoted to deciphering the clues or “drops” from “Q”. Again, a time waster in my opinion. “Alt-right” is a term like “Conspiracy Theory” that’s a powerful label created (the latter, created by the CIA, look it up) to marginalize with the sweep of a hand. And it’s effective.  Yes, you’re spot on, regarding “collective delusions” but what I find interesting is it’s playing out on both sides, more acutely on “The Left”.  Seeing a sea of “Red hatters” is a cautionary vision for me too. Of course Thiel’s backing of JD Vance is not a good sign. Have you heard of the Bilderberg Group, or CFR? He’s on their board of directors, and no, it’s not conspiracy. It’s fact. Please read up. As a side note, I’m not “anti-vax” but RJK Jr’s book shows that Big Pharma, and the agencies they’ve co-opted, don’t have your health in mind, and that’s putting it very mildly. They have a long history of money-making at all costs.

Replying to some of his commenters:
Tom wrote:
As a Trump supporter I was never a bigot. With regards to Obama…we got the first sort of mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy.,
I voted for him, but I was fooled. He’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing. I agree though, he is indeed articulate and bright though.
David, wrote:
Please read some actually reporting and scholarship, instead of conspiratorial drivel.
I wouldn’t call RFK Jr’s “The Real Anthony Fauci” or “The Pfizer Papers” by Wolf, conspiratorial drivel, nor, while I’m at it, “The “Creature from Jekyll Island”. If the first book were untrue then RFK Jr. would have been sued for libel by now.   
Christian wrote: try breaking the pill in half.
Unclear, please expound.
Ted, wrote:
Ok, so I read this page on Whitney Webb. Are you going to support Trump, the good friend of Jeffrey Epstein?
Ted, Respectfully, your comment is irrelevant and incorrect.  And you say, you ‘read a page’ on Whitney Webb. The problem is, one group has done deep research and the other is fed a narrative and believes it based on a corporate media feed.
Of course Trump is not ideal, and whether he’s been convicted of rape or not, I admittedly don’t know for fact one way or the other, but have read it was a complete set-up. (As a side note, you do know, I assume, that to get a conviction, it used to require a unanimous decision on each count by a jury of your peers. The NY judge allowed each juror to come up with his own decision on individual counts, and that called those convictions. That wasn’t justice.  It makes for great pablum, unless you look into it.  Of course he should not be calling anyone stupid or other insults. I wouldn’t want to spend a weekend with Trump. But…Watch the “Art of the Surge”, The whole documentary series of a behind the scenes reporting during this campaign with an embedded team. It’s a rare opportunity to see history in real time. As difficult as it might be, make the stretch and see the real person vs. the “straw man” the media has painted of him, (and Alex Jones, by the way, which should trigger a few!)
Ted wrote:
It seems like you think: Peter Thiel, Tucker Carson, RFK Jr., DJT, etc. are truth-tellers instead of just self-serving lie-peddlers. I don’t think you’re correct.
Your comments about truth tellers/lie peddlers is not based on fact, and, you “don’t think” I’m correct? It’s matter of knowledge from source materials. Respectfully, do some research, (happy to provide a book list for you), then get back to me.
Martha writes:
I am basing my decision to vote for Harris on information I’ve received directly from people who have dedicated their lives to defending democracy on the world stage (Gen. Kelly) or original documents (Project 2025).
Admittedly, I’ve not delved into Project 2025 yet, although have had a cursory look and understanding of it. I need to look at it. I trust you remember when Obama cleaned house of all the top brass generals and installed new ones. Why do you think he did that?

In conclusion, from my side perspective and experience, I’ve seen the huge amounts of censorship that has kept “the left” from seeing the facts. So I understand the slumber, and the reluctance to look outside the info bubble. I was once accused by that “crazy guy” Ed Brown*, (anyone remember him?) from Sullivan County, NH, USA. They locked him up and threw away the key. Yeah, he was inflammatory, and wasn’t good with people*.
*(All that exists online about Brown is a Wikipedia entry. While I don’t argue with their record of convictions, I’m completely dubious of Wikipedia, and take what they say with a grain of salt.)
But Brown once said to me, “It’s all good that your hobby is researching the deep state and all that, but what are you actually doing to spread the truth and push back against the bullies?” At the time, I was offended at his frankness. Now, I’m a busy guy.

Randall Richards is a facilitator of the NZ Media Collective, Jam For Freedom New Zealand, a movement to connect freedom and health loving muso’s both in NZ and beyond to spreading the truth through music and creating vital community, He’s a co-founding member of New Zealand Rising, and currently content editor of its newsletter. NZ Rising is directory of Freedom and Health groups in New Zealand, which was based on the successful model of Canada’s Freedom Rising. He’s currently helping others to re-start the United Free Press, an initiative to create an ethics-based international journalism cooperative.

** Since I wrote this piece yesterday, since Trump’s win, I thought I’d better clarify the meaning of “Enjoy it while you can” in the header. Since Harris’s loss, it could be construed that I was gloating, which is not what I meant.
In fact, there’s a fair chance that the globalists and deep state, and 3-letter agencies, CIA, etc., who have it out for Trump, will stage another assassination attempt, and/or a false flag event. Prefacing that no-one is coming to save us, Trump is better than Harris, and talks a good game at least. It’s fairly clear the powers that be are scattering like rats on a ship. They don’t want to held accountable for their crimes. So they’ll do whatever it takes to avoid being brought to justice.
Make no mistake, these are delicate times, and let’s pray, meditate, do Hawaiian affirmations – whatever it takes to hold the peace, be welcoming and open hearted and above all compassionate. There are some wonderful posts by people on both sides saying to stay calm and enjoy the ride. I suggest readers here do the same. Trump is not the monster the mainstream media has made him out to be, nor is he a savior. But after generations of entrenched power structures, he’s one of our best bets (not the only one though) of making this right.
So, in short, what I meant was, buckle up. It could be an interesting ride.

Oh, yes, an Ode to The Republic,

Turning Point
Copyright 2024 Randall Richards written in 1995

HERE WE ARE…AT A TURNING POINT
HERE WE GO…..AT A TURNING POINT

THINGS AREN’T AS THEY SEEM
COME TAKE A MINDWALK WITH ME
WHERE SCIENCE, ART AND THOUGHT ARE ONE

IN A PLAY OF WORDS,
A BOOK CAPRA WROTE
WELL TO HEED HIS WORDS OF LIFE AND LOVE
WITH OPEN ARMS AND OPEN MINDS
THAT’S THE TURNING POINT
WE FIND OURSELVES IN NOW

ROME WAS GONE
IN A TWINKLING OF AN EYE
SO SHALL WE
UNLESS WE SEE THE FOLLY OF OUR TIMES
THATS THE TURNING POINT
WE FIND OURSELVES IN NOW

ANXIETIES RISE
PRESSURE’S BUILDING DAY BY DAY

THE ANSWERS WE SEEK
DEMAND NEW QUESTIONS
NOT FROM RIGHT OR LEFT
BUT FROM THE CENTER OF OUR HEARTS

GONE ARE THE DAYS
OF BLISSFULL FEAR AND HOPELESS NIGHTS
UP OR DOWN
RIGHT OR LEFT
THE CHOICE IS OURS YOU SEE
WE’RE AT A TURNING POINT

Slowdown Post #13: “Hayice” Climbing!

13/08/2020

20200513_120509 copyDuring lockdown Level 4, we eyed the farmer’s hay bales, the next field over, and received permission to take ice axes and crampons to them “as long as we didn’t tip any over on us”. It was remarkably realistic climbing except the occasional piece of straw in your boot and of course the warmth! Who knows, maybe it will catch on. It’s a great way to get a pump, and practice your skills. When growing up in New Hampshire, I took for granted the ice climbs that were 10-15 minutes’ walk from the car, Frankenstein Cliff’s in the White Mountains, come to mind, or smaller local climbs hidden in the woods near Sunapee. In New Zealand, you’ll need a full day’s approach by ski touring into Wye Creek, or Black Peak here in Wanaka to see any ice. No driving to the ice fall or belaying off the bumper here!

Mindfulness in the Mountains Program Runs a Second Year

29/08/2013

Buddhist Refuge and Mountain Spirit Institute Collaborate again on Mindfulness Program
By R. Richards, Mountain Spirit Founder

Lama Willa Miller Collaborates with Mountain Spirit on Mindfulness in Mtns Program

Lama Willa Miller Collaborates with Mountain Spirit on Mindfulness in Mtns Program

Mindfulness in the Mountains, a 3-day adventure and meditation program, will be co-sponsored again for a second year in a row by Mountain Spirit Institute and the Natural Dharma Fellowship’s Wonderwell Refuge of Springfield NH, with a four day program of rock climbing, kayaking and hiking starting on Thursday, September 12th and lasting through the weekend.

Says Mountain Spirit Institute founder, Randall Richards, “A pair of instructors will lead each activity, one focusing on outdoor skills, the other on teaching various meditation techniques. Both instructors however,  will offer their knowledge and background in both meditation and outdoor skills.  There will be quite a bit crossover between the co-leaders. Each instructor team shares exercises in both meditation and outdoor skills.

Kayaks on last year's program

Kayaks on last year’s program

They expect participants, to come for hiking, rock climbing and kayaking from different parts of the eastern U.S. as well as farther afield. The program will be held in the Dartmouth/Lake Sunapee region.

Richards says of last year’s program, “I’ve been guiding and leading mountain programs for over 28 years, and this was, by far, one of the most fulfilling and meaningful experiences I’ve had.” He added, “To hike, climb or kayak, and focus, as a group, on the quiet of the place through which we traveled, was meaningful for both instructors and participants.” (more…)

Mindfulness in the Mountains #2

30/10/2012

 Gunshots in the Wilderness
#2 in a Series – Mindfulness in the Mountains

The mist clears, the gunshots arrive

It seemed that spirit was working with us on this day on the water, during Mountain Spirit Institute‘s recent program with The Natural Dharma Fellowship Buddhist retreat center based at Wonderwell Refuge in Springfield, NH.  The six of us slowly paddled our kayaks through the mist on Grafton Pond. There was no one else to be seen on this drizzly Sunday morning, when normally 20-40 cars might be unloading their boats. It’s for good reason this place is popular. Actually a one-and-half-mile lake with a wilderness feel, complete with some 44 islands and great views of Cardigan Mountain to the north, this place has become overly popular with weekend warriors. We didn’t even have Grafton Pond on the schedule, knowing that private mediation and crowds weren’t conducive for contemplation in the wilds of New Hampshire. But there were no other cars to be seen on this day. Just us.

The weather forecast called for a short break in the rainy downpours between 10am and 2pm. Right on schedule, the rain stopped, and all was quiet, for the time being. We paddled  quietly to the southwest arm of the pond. The first exercise we gave our  participants was to drift in the big bay, slowly exploring the shoreline with presence of mind, quietly and slowly paddling from their kayaks.

All was idyllic, no rain, no people, just peace. Then,  like a tear in the fabric, gunshots from 3 miles away broke the silence. As we were each far apart from each other, we were not comparing notes about the noise until we reconvened one hour later. The shots rang regularly every three to five minutes apart.
We asked our participants, (not only on this day, but also at the end of the program), what their takeaways were from the experience. My co-facilitator, Tara Moon, shared that “the gun shots were” for her,  “like punctuation marks, reminders to stay present” . Unlike her, my first reaction was to swear at the offending firearms person, granted, under my breath. But as the hour drew on, I too accepted the state of the lake, complete with echoes of the gunshots heard on the water’s edge.

MSI Founder R. Richards on Mindfulness in the Mountains Program, Grafton Pond, NH
Image: Tara Moon

What has been most powerful though, has been the extension of this lesson learned, the transference of the experience, and how it has stuck with me in “my life away from the wilderness”, back in civilization. The gunshots are, to me,  like any disturbance that comes into my life, whether it’s an unkind comment that comes my way, or a bank that has overcharged me.  What I do between these disturbances is my business,  my responsibility. It is up to me to keep the calm, to remain in balance.

I also presented a metaphor of the lake and its waves during our kayaking program to illustrate, (from Eckhart Tolle’s example) that our lives are like not just the waves on the surface of the lake, but the whole lake. The waves might sometimes be windy and rough, but that is only part of the lake. Going down deep, where the water is undisturbed, or moved ever so slightly, is similar to staying focused on the goal of presence.
I love facilitating groups in the mountains and wilderness. I learn as much, or more than the students, and this case proved that again.

Contact us if you’d like to know more about the Mindfulness in the Mountains program, as well as our other programs in Peru, upcoming programs in France and New Zealand.

What Gives You Hope?

26/07/2012

Grafton Pond, NH

“The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs: the deep Moans round with many voices. Come, my friends, ‘Tis not too late to seek a newer world. 
Alfred Lord Tennyson

I started Mountain Spirit Institute in 1998 when we led our first trip to Peru, with the basic mission “to facilitate a deeper connection to the natural environment, each other and ourselves.”  Since then it has become ever more apparent how we need “nature time” more than ever. It’s good to see people out on the trail, and in kayaks these days, but National Park use is down in the U.S, and technology competes for the breath of fresh air. We just offered a presentation last night in a small town in New Hampshire called “Get Outside While You Still Can.” The piece below echoes a lot of what we covered in our presentation, and why we started MSI.

 By Eric Utne,
Founder, The Utne Reader

As I’ve said in this column before, I’m afraid it may be too late to avoid the devastating effects of global climate change. (more…)

Back Writing Again..& Upcoming Programs and Special Events

06/07/2012

Holistic Outdoor Connections
Since 1998

Although I’ve had a backlog of ideas and material for MSI’s blog, and have even shot some footage for video posts (stay tuned), our family has been busy with a major move of late. Nevertheless, it’s time to start writing again.  Plus, we have some upcoming programs that may be of interest!:

  • Adventure Educator’s Symposium July 22: Share,learn and apply best practices of processing & facilitation. Open to students, teachers and outdoor educators. No charge.
  • Reconnecting with Nature Hike July 24: Hike to a mountain-top, relax with a short meditation and a powerful reading.
  • Getting Outside! Nature Deficit Disorder July 25, 7pm: How do you view nature? Do you find it hard to get nature time? Technology got ya?
  • Solo July 28: 1 day retreat in a beautiful setting to unplug.
  • Solo Overnight Aug 25/6: Saturday morning head out to a private spot, supervised retreat, minimal gear.
  • Mindfulness in the Mountains Oct 13/14: Co-sponsored with Natural Dharma Fellowship, come explore the adventure within through Rock Climbing / Hike / Kayak.
  • Rock Climbing as Metaphor for Life: By appt. For families up to four.

Stay tuned for more info or to contact us,  and please visit us at mtnspirit.org
Cheers,

R. Richards

MSI Hosts Adventure Educator’s Sharing Symposium

06/07/2012

Learn and Share at MSI’s Symposium
Image: Participants in North Cascades, WA

Mountain Spirit Institute invites educators and interns to attend, share, and learn at the
Adventure Educator’s Sharing Symposium

WHERE: A Quiet, Rural Setting in the Dartmouth/Lake Sunapee Region
WHEN: Sunday, July 22nd, 2012
WHO: Open to Students, Teachers and Outdoor Educators and Interns..See more below.
COST: No charge. The Adventure Education Sharing Symposium is provided as a professional service by Mountain Spirit Institute, its staff, and its donors. If you wish, you are invited to make a contribution to the Mountain Spirit Institute scholarship fund.

WHAT: Experiential educators and adventure facilitators have creative and involving ways to help people bring the adventure home—to make connections between adventure experiences and our lives back at home, work or school. This symposium unites adventure programmers to share, learn, and apply some of our best practices regarding processing, facilitation, and transfer of learning in adventure education.

The Adventure Educator’s Sharing Symposium is responsive to the training and needs of each participant. By sharing, demonstrating, and talking about the processing and facilitation techniques we use in our various settings, the content, outcomes, and much of the structure of this day is co-created by participants, but with a little guidance toward the primary goal of an expanded tools-of-the trade repertoire for all participants. So, take an active role in your own learning and share your knowledge with others. (more…)

One Hell of a Paddle

30/04/2012

Expedition 2012: From  Vermont to James Bay by Canoe
Paddling Forward, Giving Back

Expedition 2012's Route

By R.Richards
Family friend, Tom Bloch is one of ten crew members of Expedition 2012, an epic 1,200 mile canoe trip from Lake Dunmore Vermont to James Bay in Northern Canada, which is underway as we post this.

The expedition is an effort to support the Keewaydin Foundation in its ongoing mission to preserve “the Keewaydin Way”, and extend its benefits to an ever-greater range of today’s youth. The Foundation has three summer camps: Keewaydin Temagami (Ontario, Canada), Keewaydin Dunmore (Salisbury, Vermont), and Songadeewin of Keewaydin (Salisbury, Vermont).

To accomplish their goal, Expedition 2012 is committed to establish a new scholarship endowment for the Foundation. Expedition 2012 is using the extended wilderness canoe trip, which is a tradition at Keewaydin’s as a fundraising platform,  . They are paddling the long route over the course of 65 days in wood and canvas boats hand-crafted by the expedition members. During the course of this project, expedition members are additionally dedicated to environmental advocacy towards the preservation of the wilderness we hold dear. To learn more about the progress of the expedition, and to follow the the paddlers go here, or head over to  their blog

Keewaydin states on their website, “To live for a summer in a world largely unstructured and shaped only by nature itself… this is an adventure few are privileged to know.” and adds, “Through these programs, Keewaydin builds strong, independent character while exposing young men and women to a bygone lifestyle. Since 1893, Keewaydin has withstood the temptation of change, holding firm to what is dear of the past and leaving it untouched. Keewaydin’s simplicity and special link to the undisturbed wilderness set our programs apart from traditional camp experiences. This is the Keewaydin Way.” To learn more about the camp, visit their website.

The map, drawn up by Johnny Clore, shows the full itinerary of Expedition 2012 from Lake Dunmore down Otter Creek to Lake Champlain, then down the Richelieu River to the St. Lawrence Seaway.  From Montreal, we’ll head upstream on the Ottawa River for over three hundred miles and cut west for our resupply at Temagami by following the fabled “Trip In.”  From there the route leads over a swift succession of smaller lakes and rivers to the Abitibi River, where we will restock and head for the bay at Moosonee. Resupply locations are indicated with yellow stars. Click the “Itinerary” tab on the left to get a more detailed look at our itinerary.

Tom Bloch, On Expedition 2012

Tom Bloch has written a personal mission statement and essay, as have the other members of the team), which starts out…”I never went to summer camp.  Instead of big canvas tents and shiny green canoes, my childhood summers were filled with soccer camps and family hiking trips.  Now, here’s the shocker: I turned out just fine.  As of my college graduation last May, I was a reasonably well-adjusted, mild-mannered young man with sensible career aspirations and even a few healthy hobbies.  The world is rife with friendly, successful people who have never paddled a canoe.  In light of this, what is the value of Keewaydin?  Why this grand expedition? Read the rest of Tom’s entry here..

SOLO, After All These Years

03/02/2012

Dr. Frank Hubbell started SOLO, (Stonehearth Open Learning Opportunities) in the mid-’70’s and is still going strong. I was recently at SOLO’s base in New Hampshire, renewing my Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician qualifications and thought I’d share some footage of the place that many outdoor professionals know so well. SOLO offers a wide variety of programs.  I met some interesting folks attending this re-cert, and will post an interview or two here in the coming days.

From their website: SOLO took root in the early 1970s and grew out of the vision of its founders Frank Hubbell and Lee Frizzell (husband and wife). As Frank recalls, pre-hospital care was in its infancy, and an organized EMS system didn’t exist yet in New Hampshire. The concept of providing emergency care to the sick and injured revolved around what is today referred to as the “Golden Hour.” “As skiers, climbers, and EMTs in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, we would respond to the call for injured hikers and climbers,” Frank remembers. “It very quickly became apparent that the skills that we had learned as “street EMTs” did not work in the wilderness environment. We had to learn how to provide care outside the golden hour. But, that information was not available—we had to learn it through experience.” Frank’s frustration with the lack of an appropriate “wilderness” standard led to the creation of one of the first, if not the first, wilderness emergency medicine courses in the country. By 1975, a basic “Mountain/Woods First Aid” course was taken on the road by Frank, and taught to the few folks who could see its value.. Read more..

In addition to SOLO, there are also a number of organizations offering Wilderness First Responder and EMT trainings. I’ll probably cover a few of them in this blog at some point

Hello. We’re back… but not in U.S.

27/12/2010

Greetings from Australia, Mate.
By R. Richards

Caution in Australia...

Sorry we’ve been a bit out of touch. We’ve been busy packing up our New Hampshire home, updating our programs’ webpages and heading to the Southern Hemisphere for a while. We’ve been on the eastern coast of Australia for the Holidays, and will be headed to New Zealand on January 10th.

We’ve got an exciting  drumming program in Jamaica with master drumming instructor Bob Bloom, and a Personal Sustainability program called Creating a Sustainable Lifestyle in Vermont this spring in the northern hemisphere.

This is my first time in AU, and my first impressions are that the people are very generous, sincere and welcoming. the power of the continent is overwhelming. My first time sitting down to meditate, I clearly heard the words, “It’s about time you showed up.” I take this to mean, not only arriving in Australia but taking the time to sit down since my arrival and sit quietly with the place. More on this in an upcoming post.

Anyway, expect to see posts more regularly from here on out. We’ll be posting from New Zealand of course. Rumors have it that board member Bob Stremba might even come down for a visit and recon some program areas with me.

Sydney Stopover

We had a stopover in Sydney for a week seeing Amanda’s friends, (my newly found friends), before heading north to stay with family for the holidays. A very expensive city but such generous people with a welcoming attitude. It’s Amanda’s ol’ stomping ground, and she still has to show me around a bit, when we head back there on our way to New Zealand.  We happened to arrive just as Oprah Winfrey was shooting a week-long segment of her show here. As it turned out, she was welcomed with opened arms, along with 300 of her audience members. I mention her because of some of the good work she’s doing, such as bringing Eckhart Tolle’s message to a broader audience, and encouraging more conscious living. The people and government of Australia were happy to have her here. The coverage will be invaluable for Australia’s tourism exposure.

The continent is proving itself to be powerful and beautiful. Although I’ve only seen a portion of it, I can feel its power taking hold.